Sequels aim at Christmas kid-vid market

Published: Thursday, December 17, 1998

Knight-Ridder

It's a race to the finish between two cartoon sequels, both designed to create kiddie demand as the Christmas sell-through market winds down.

Already in stores is Universal's $20 tape, "The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock," which continues the adventures of Littlefoot and his fellow baby dinosaurs, all introduced in the 1988 theatrical movie that was co-produced by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

iosfrxoalThe six "Land Before Time" videos have now topped $520 million in worldwide sales. The success of the franchise has encouraged a number of other companies to follow suit, including MGM Family Entertainment, which is releasing "The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue," on Tuesday for $15.

This lively 70-minute cartoon, about a utopian society created by rats and mice from the first film, features five Lee Holdridge/Richard Sparks songs, all sung by Ralph Macchio, who plays the voice of the handicapped mouse hero, Timmy.

William H. Macy is a rat who turns out to be Timmy's mentor, Harvey Korman is a trouble-making alley cat, Dom De Luise is a crow and Eric Idle is Timmy's evil, envious older brother. (The original "NIMH" was released to theaters in 1982.)

Neither tape is likely to knock out Disney's "Lion King II: Simba's Pride" or "Pocahontas II: Journey to the New World," which have been high on sales charts for several weeks. But the "NIMH" sequel is priced so low that it could make a dentlvlnsgtaliee.

Also competing in the kid-vid market:

"Summer of the Monkeys" ($20). Due in stores Friday, this Walt Disney Home Video release is a story about a boy (12-year-old Corey Sevier) who wants money for a pony and tries to raise it by capturing four runaway circus chimps. The cast includes Michael Ontkean and Wilford Brimley; the director is Michael Anderson.its-nr The G-rated, 101-minute film has been playing theaters in several cities since its world premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.

"People of the Forest" ($15). Also from Discovery Channel Video, this film about the chimpanzees of Gombe was shot over a 20-year period. Donald Sutherland narrates.

"Bear in the Big Blue House" ($13 apiece). Columbia TriStar Home Video is releasing two more volumes of Jim Henson Home Entertainment's children's series, which airs airing at 9 a.m. weekdays on The Disney Channel (Cox Cable Channel 48).

"Kid Cop" ($30). Paramount Home Video is releasing this story of an 11-year-old boy (Jeremy Leliott) determined to follow in the footsteps of his policeman father. Edward Albert plays his adult accomplice.

"Shadow of the Night" ($30). Also from Paramount, this story is set in the highlands of Scotland, where a young boy becomes the protector of the last dragon on Earth.

"Kids Are Punny" ($13). HBO Home Video's 30-minute tape was inspired by Rosie O'Donnell's best-seller, which featured jokes, puns, riddles and illustrations that children sent to her TV show. Profits from the book and video go to the For All Kids Foundation.